Dedicated to Horror, Post Apocalyptic Fiction and Thrillers

Hunter Shea – Ghost Mine Review

Genre: HorrorLength: 288 PagesPublisher: Flame Tree PressRelease date: May 9, 2019Synopsis: Deep in a Wyoming mine, hell awaits. Nat Blackburn is given an offer he can’t refuse by President Teddy Roosevelt. Tales of gold in the abandoned mining town of Hecla abound. The only problem – those who go seeking their fortune never return. Along with his constant companion, Teta, a hired gun with a thirst for adventure, Nat travels to a barren land where even animals dare not tread. Black-eyed children, strange lights and ferocious wild men venture from the deep, dark ghost mine…as well as a sinister force hungry for fresh souls.

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review

As any follower to my blog well knows, I’m a huge fan of Hunter Shea and have been for longer than I can remember. His monsters always scare the holy hell out of me. The Dover Demon, The Jersey Devil, and Creature are at the top of that list, and I love the fast-paced flow of Hunters books.

Ghost Mine was another beast entirely, with a pace that was turned down, one to be savored and not rushed through. Ghost Mine was a book I settled in for and enjoyed the ride. The mystery that Nat and Teta set out to solve became more complex at every turn. I really dug the camaraderie between Nat and Teta. These characters had a cool connection, like when you know someone well enough to finish their sentence.

The atmosphere of Helca and the surrounding area of Deep Rock Hills gave me goosebumps. The emptiness of the town, the creatures from the mines, and the way the landscape moved was eerie. The following snippets from the book really set the accompanying scene, and a few added an extra layer to the mystic of this town.

Maybe everything here is a dream.

This was no place for men. This was where nightmares were stored.

No one’s here, I’m not here. I’m not there.

A mind can bear witness to just so much, and the it breaks as easily as an egg.

Double hell if those aren’t great descriptions that and give this ghost story depth. In my opinion, we have another winner from Hunter, and one to be added to your to be read list.

Hunter Shea is the product of a childhood weaned on The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and In Search Of. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself.

Publishers Weekly named The Montauk Monster one of the best reads of the summer in 2014, and his follow up novel, Hell Hole, was named best horror novel of the year on several prestigious horror sites. Cemetery Dance had this to say about his apocalyptic thriller, Tortures of the Damned – “A terrifying read that left me wanting more. I absolutely devoured this book!”

Hunter is an amateur cryptozoologist, having written wild, fictional tales about Bigfoot, The Montauk Monster, The Dover Demon and many new creatures to come. Copies of his books, The Montauk Monster and The Dover Demon, are currently on display in the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, ME.

He wrote his first novel with the express desire to work only with editor Don D’Auria at Dorchester (Leisure Horror). He submitted his novel to Don and only Don, unagented, placed on the slush pile. He is proof that dedicated writers can be rescued from no man’s land. He now works with Don, along with several other agents and publishers, having published over ten books in just four years.

Hunter is proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with his partner in crime, Jack Campisi. It is one of the most watched horror video podcasts in the world. Monster Men is a light-hearted approach to dark subjects. Hunter and Jack explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun. They often interview authors, crytid and ghost hunters, directors and anyone else living in the horror lane.

Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to get Gray’s Papaya hot dogs when the craving hits. His daughters have also gotten the horror bug, assisting him with research, story ideas and illustrations that can be seen in magazines such as Dark Dossier.